Paul Kimmage: Rough Rider

I watched this documentary on Irish TV last night.

Title: Rough Rider
length: About an hour

Review:

Interesting film that follows journalist Paul Kimmage and wife in rented camper van as he covers the 2013 Tour de France. Kimmage is shown recalling his own experiences in the 1986 Tour when he completed and 1989 when he didn't.

No great surprises for anyone who has followed Kimmage over the years. All the old passion and bitterness on display.

Nothing of it on the RTE.ie player. If you hear anything about it going online, could you let us lads in Furrin Parts know?

Will do.

edit:

Rough Rider

July 28th 2014, RTE One, 9:35pm
Duration: 89 minutes

Update: The film will not be available on the RTE Player, and international distribution is not yet confirmed, so this is only available on RTE One (and RTE One +1). We hope to have more information on international availability in the coming monthshttp://www.wildfirefilms.net/mysitec...roughrider.htm

As I say will keep you guys posted if I find it on line in the future.

It's like he carries the demons of the sport with him 24/7. He says he still loves the sport, but it seems that he can't spend a minute enjoying it without being drowned out by the haunting question.

None of us are sure that the sport is clean now - Froome, Contador, Nibali, any of them. I hope it is. And I can spend most of my time suspending my skepticism and enjoying the races, even though I wouldn't be too surprised to read a damning revelation this year, next year, some time.

I did like the footage of Kimmage riding now, though. He's not trying to prove anything to anybody, he's just riding. Though the doc doesn't dwell on it, I get the feeling that he still loves riding, if not the sport.

I've watched it again and find it gives a broader view of Paul Kimmage. Having read most of 'A Rough Ride' and followed his public life as a journalist over the years he struck me as a bit bitter and twisted with a giant chip on his shoulder.
You see some of that here but also that he has another more relaxed side to his personality. It's sad himself and Roche can't reclaim some of their old friendship.